THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 2^3 



5.1i suit the stillness and gentleness which are required at a 

 time hke this. 



. When hounds come to a check, a huntsman should 

 ( obs:erve the tail hounds : they are least likely t*o over-run 

 f the scent j and he may see by them how far they brought 

 ' it : in most packs there are some hounds that will shew the 

 <• point of the fox, and, if attended to, will direft his cast, 

 I When such hounds follow slowly and unwillingly, he may be 

 ' certain that the rest of the pack are running without a scent. 



When he casts his hounds, let him not cast wide, with- 

 .out reason; for, of course, it will take more time. Hunts- 

 men, in general, keep too forward in their casts ; or, as a 

 sailor would say, keep too long on one tack : they should en- 

 deavour to hit off the scent, by crossing the line of it : — two 

 parallel lines, you know, can never m:e: *. 



When he goes to a halloo, let him be careful, lest his 

 hounds run the heel, as much time is lost by it. I once 



* By attending to this, a huntsman cannot fail to make a good cast j 

 for, if he observe the point of the fox, he may always cross upon the scent 

 of him. 



